Methanogenic granular sludge formation in an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket reactir treating synthetic methanolic waste

A laboratory upflow anaerobic sludge blanket reactor, seeded with fine, suspended, bacterial floc with 1.76 g volatile suspended solids/l, was used to treat synthetic methanolic waste. After 180 days of continuous peration, granular sludge with discrete granules of 1 to 2 mm diam. was formed, with 52 g volatile suspended solids/l. Granules were brown, relatively soft and had a settling velocity of 1.61 cm/s. Extracellular polymeric matter extracted from the granular sludge had high carbohydrate content but low nucleic acid content. The ash of the granular sludge contained Na⁺, K⁺ and Mg²⁺ up to 15.0, 11.7 and 3.75 mg/g, respectively. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy revealed that the granular sludge was dominated by methanogens resembling Methanosarcina.The authors are with the Department of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Osaka University, 2-1 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565, Japan     

新疆10种沙生植物旱生结构的解剖学研究

新疆１０种沙生植物的形态解剖研究表明,它们为适应沙生环境形态结构发生变化。叶器官的形态呈三种类型：叶片退化成膜质或鳞片状,而由同化枝执行光合功能;叶片上下都具栅栏组织,表皮角质膜厚,表皮毛发达,气孔下陷,输导组织和机械组织都发达;叶片肉质化,叶肉组织不分化,贮水组织发达而输导组织不发达。轴器官中厚壁组织发达,围绕维管组织,维管组织内部也有发达的厚壁组织。根中普遍具有周皮,一些植物存在异常的维管组织,部分植物还具有粘液细胞或结晶。沙生植物形成各种旱生结构,以不同的方式适应沙生环境。     

提高赤红壤旱地生态系统土壤肥力问题的研究

提高赤红壤旱地生态系统土壤肥力问题的研究高志强（福建农业大学土地与环境学系,福州３５０００２）ＳｏｉｌＦｅｒｔｉｌｉｔｙＩｍｐｒｏｖｅｍｅｎｔｏｆＵｐｌａｎｄＬａｔｅｒｉｔｉｃＲｅｄＳｏｉｌＥｃｏｓｙｓｔｅｍ．￥ＧａｏＺｈｉｑｉａｎｇ（Ｄｅｐａｒｔｍ...     

中国生态环境区划初探

中国生态环境区划初探高密来（中国人民大学区域经济研究所北京１００８７２）ＡｎＡｐｐｒｏａｃｈｔｏｔｈｅＲｅｇｉｏｎａｌｉｚａｔｉｏｎｏｆＥｃｏｌｏｇｉｃａｌＥｎｖｉｒｏｎｍｅｎｔｉｎＣｈｉｎａ．￥ＧａｏＭｉｌａｉ（ＩｎｓｔｉｔｕｔｅｏｆＲｅｇｉｏｎａ...     

虎嘉鱼保护生物学的研究V.生境特点及保护对策

本文报道了虎嘉鱼的生境特点及保护对策,主要是加强宣传教育,严禁滥捕,深入研究,开展人工养殖试验和建立自然保护区等措施,确保物种生存和繁衍。     

Semen characteristics of Muturu Bulls--Bos brachyceros

Six mature Muturu Bulls were elecroejaculated once a week for nine weeks to study their semen quality and ejaculate characteristics. The semen volume was 1.8 ml +/- 0.1, the sperm concentration 2.16 x 10(8)/ml +/- 0.29, and the progressive sperm motility 36.2% +/- 2.6. Morphologically normal sperm averaged 70.0% +/- 3.1, primary abnormalities 13.4% +/- 1.0 and secondary abnormalities 15.1% +/- 2.3. Except in one bull, no measurable levels of fructose were observed. The contents of major cations and chloride ions in whole semen and seminal plasma were also determined.     

Ecological degradation and agricultural intensification in the Andean highlands

Andean cultural ecologists have made two claims in recent years: ecological decomposition is absent due to effective indigenous management of communal resources, and agricultural intensification is inversely related to altitude. Drawing on material from the Jukumani Indians of Northern Potosi, Bolivia, these assertions are challenged. First, there is little evidence to prove or disprove ecological degradation. Second, the location of agricultural intensification, as the Jukumani data suggests, is influenced by altitude as well as by the presence of market.Fieldwork in Bolivia was carried out between January 1979 and May 1981. This essay was originally presented at a conference entitled, How Communities Resolve Common Property Problems, sponsored by the Harvard Institute for International Development and the Center for Population Studies of Harvard University in the spring semester of 1983.     

Nodulation studies on legumes exotic to Australia: Hedysarum coronarium

Abstract Symbiotic experiments in glasshouse, controlled environment cabinet, and field were conducted with four lines of sulla ( Hedysarum coronarium ) and 15 strains of Rhizobium spp. This plant is highly Rhizobium -specific and appropriate strains are most unlikely to occur naturally in Australia. Under several sets of experimental conditions, H. coronarium nodulated abundantly and effectively with homologous rhizobia introduced from Spain and Italy. The optimum temperature for nitrogen fixation was relatively low (approx. 21°C) but significant interactions between line of host, strain of rhizobia, and growth temperature were frequent. The rhizobia were persistent in soil.     

Seed morphology in some European aconites (Aconitum,Ranunculaceae)

The seed coat morphology, investigated in taxa representative of the main European groups ofAconitum, are in good agreement with the current taxonomy of the genus. The seed coat microcharacteristics (warty epidermal cells) are very constant. There is a trend for the reduction of longitudinal wings on the edges concomitant with the development of ridges and transverse wings on the faces. Another morphological progression leads from smooth to rugulose and eventually to transverse wing-bearing seed faces. A working hypothesis suggests an ecological adaptative significance to these changes.     

Species richness and endemism in the Usambara mountain forests,Tanzania

The East Usambara Mountain forests constitute what is probably one of the richest biological communities in Africa in terms of plant and animal species numbers and endemic taxa. This review presents brief accounts of the flora and of three invertebrate and four vertebrate groups and shows the percentage endemic taxa to vary from 2% (mammals) to 95% (millipedes) as a proportion of the true forest species. Notes are given on the geology, soils, climate and present land use of the Usambaras. Biological richness is considered to be due to long periods of isolation and geological stability coupled with periods of species immigration during times of re-establishment of a continuous forest cover. The nature of the endemic elements is briefly discussed. Evidence is given to show that the forests are subject to increasing pressure from legal and illegal encroachment due to agriculture (tea, cardamon, subsistence) and forestry timber operations. Air photograph analysis shows a forest decrease of some 50% in the vicinity of Amani from 1954 to 1976. The low conservation status of most forest reserves and the lack of detailed knowledge on the distribution, status and biology of the endemic species means present conservation efforts are poor and haphazard. This review calls for greatly increased research inputs and a complete halt to all exploitation of natural forest areas until a long term conservation land use plan can be implemented.